The King of Soho Gin

​Soho, that little bohemian gem in London, sometimes seedy, sometimes stylish, but always fun – much like myself. When I came across the King of Soho gin I thought someone had finally crafted a spirit in my honour, but had failed to inform me, but it turned out it was in fact made for a former king.

The gin was crafted to honour Paul Raymond by his son. For those who don’t know, Paul Raymond was a property developer and owner of the first strip club in the UK, he also founded several *ahem* gentlemen’s magazines. For those who want to know more, Raymond was wonderfully played by Steve Coogan in the 2013 film The Look of Love, but for the moment I shall go back to the gin.

Made in the London Dry style, twelve botanicals and neutral grain spirit are mixed with water before being quadruple distilled, until the final product sits at 42%. There’s a high presence of citrus botanicals, with the interesting appearance of grapefruit peel listed in the ingredients.

​So enough of the background, the first thing that really strikes you about King of Soho is the bottle, which practically jumps off the shelf at you. The main character ‘Spirit of Soho’, is designed to reflect the area itself. The flamboyant dress sense reflects the fashion of the area. The Fox’s tail represents Soho’s previous time as a royal hunting ground mixed with the fox’s reputation as a cunning creature of the night. The trumpet points towards Soho’s rich jazz history and the book indicates Soho’s association with many a creative industries – and you thought it just looked pretty. 
​
Fancy bottles aside though, like all things with extravagant exteriors it’s what’s inside that really counts. 

Fox's tasting Notes 
The first sip is cool and refreshing, like leaving a Soho bar into the cool night air of London. A sweet citrus perfume wafts alluringly, drawing your attention to meet the gaze of a dark Soho beauty, whose eyes offer a hint of the spiciness yet to come. The encounter leaves you with a bitter sweet taste, much like the morning after a night in Soho. 

King of Soho tasting notes 
Nose: Clean and gentle  
Taste: Classic juniper and pine notes with a refreshing zest of citrus oil 
Finish: The tangy grapefruit gives way to soft warming spice 
Average Price: £34.49 

Fox's Rating 
9/10 

​King of Soho is a sharp, sweet and pleasingly warming gin. Equally at home in a generously poured gin and tonic or in a more carefully crafted cocktail, it’s worth trying just for the bottle alone – but I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the contents. Now I wonder who does the Spirit of Soho’s tailoring ?

The King is dead, long live the King !

​The SilverFox